Contact switch for material guiding device



July 30, 1957 G. CUBELLIS 2,801,308

CONTACT swrrcn FOR MATERIAL GUIDING nsvxca Filed Nov. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. sumo CUBELLIS BY ATTORNEY July 30, 1957 G. CUBELLIS 2,801,308

CONTACT SWITCH FOR MATERIAL GUIDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS Fl 4 INVENTOR. GUI DO CUBELLIS ATTORNEY United States Patent CONTACT SWITCH FOR MATERIAL GUIDING DEVICE Guido Cubellis, West Warwick, R. I.

Application November 16, 1955, Serial No. 547,061

10 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-61.18)

My present invention relates to material guiding devices and more particularly to an automatic switch for controlling such devices.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an automatic switch which contacts the edge of the material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a material contact switch having an overtravel to the right or left.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a material guiding switch which is easily adjustable for position or swing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch for operating a material guiding mechanism which is simple in construction and easy and economical to manufacture and assemble.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts, more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the appended claims;

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a switch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the switch.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the contact arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the contacts in overtraveled position.

Where material is fed from a roll or coil to a machine, it is often important that the feed be accurate and straight. For example, cloth must be fed with straight edges into a tenter frame, paper into a press, or strip metal into a stamping press. The method of ensuring a straight feed is to provide a device, either mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic, for shifting the material from one side to the other in response to a fixed contacting switch which has a sensitive fingerat the edge of the material. The present invention provides a novel construction of such a contacting switch which is easily adjustable and highly sensitive.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the switch is mounted on a suitable vertical base which may be positioned in a switch box if desired. Mounted on the base 10 in opposed spaced relation adjacent the lower edge thereof are a pair of micro-switches 11 and 12. For the purposes of the present invention it is necessary that the contact points on the micro-switches be properly spaced from the base 10 and the switches are therefore mounted on spacing blocks as shown in Fig. 3. For the sake of accuracy I prefer to use the three-pole microswitch illustrated so that a dynamic brake can be used to provide instantaneous starts and stops of the mecha nism. The contacting harness comprises an elongated metal tongue 13 which is loosely pivoted at its upper end 14 at the upper central portion of the base 10. The tongue 13 is preferably made of thick brass or other suitrr' C able material of a substantial width as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The tongue 13 may be used directly for contacting the material as shown in Fig. 1, or any desirable extensions such as wire fingers may be added thereto to suit the circumstances and the material being contacted. At a point adjacent the upper end of the tongue 13, and between the micro-switches 11 and 12, the tongue 13 is provided with cross bars 15 in spaced parallel relation at each side edge. At the outer ends of the cross bars 15 a pivot pin 16 extends through the cross bars in parallel relation to the plane of the tongue 13. A rocker arm 17 is pivotally mounted on each pivot pin 16.

The lower end of each rocker arm is provided with an adjustable contacting screw 18 threadedly engaging the rocker arm with the heads positioned outwardly from the plane of the tongue 13. The lower ends of the rocker arm are preferably split as at 19 and are squeezed slightly out of alignment to provide-a tight fit for the screws 18 and make sure that they will remain in set position. This eliminates the need for lock washers and lock nuts. The upper end of each rocker arm 17 is provided with a longer adjustment screw 20 mounted similarly to the screws 18 and the upper end of each rocker arm is split at 21 to hold the screws 20 in set position.

Referring to Fig. 2, each pivot 16 is surrounded by a spring 22 in the form of a loop, the lower ends 23 bearing against the face of the tongue 13 and the upper ends 24 hearing against the upper portion of the rocker arms 17 above the pivot 16. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the rocker arms are resiliently held so that their upper ends swing inwardly until the inner ends of the adjusting screws 20 bear against the tongue 13. If one or the other of the screws 20 are turned to move inwardly they will cause the arms 17 to pivot towards vertical position with the upper end further away from the tongue 13 and the lower end swinging inwardly. The reverse action takes place if the adjustment screws 20 are moved outwardly.

Now referring to Fig. 1, the tongue 13 and its contacting arrangement is pivoted between the micro-switches 11 and 12 so that the operating contact of each microswitch is in line with the pivoted swing of the lower screws 18. By adjusting the upper screws 20 the distance or space between the head of each screw 18 and its adjacent micro-switch can be regulated down to zero. This controls the amount of pivoted movement that the tongue 13 can travel towards either micro-switch before it is energized. Assuming that a material 25 is being fed to the left of the tongue 13 as shown in Fig. 1 and traveling parallel to the plane of the tongue. In this position it is desirable that the tongue 13 exert a light pressure against the edge of the material. I therefore provide a light spring 26 mounted on the pivot 14 with one end hooked over the edge of the base 10 and the other end bearing against the right side of the tongue 13. If the material is fed on the opposite side of the tongue 13 then the spring 26 is reversed.

Assuming that the material will have an irregular width or is not fed in a straight line its edge will move in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. l in relation to the plane of the tongue 13. When the material moves to the left the tongue 13 will follow until the microswitch 11 is energized. This will immediately cause the feeding device to move the material to the right until the tongue 13 returns to the position shown in Fig. 1 when the micro-switch 11 becomes de-energized. When the material moves to the right the micro-switch 12 becomes energized and the device will move the material to the left.

Now referring to Fig. 5, assuming that the material suddenly swings far to the right. At the instant that the screw 18 energizes the micro-switch 12 the device asoneoe will start moving the material to the left. However, this may take a second or two and in the meanwhile the contacting tongue or switch could be subject to great strain or breakage. The arrangement shown in Fig. 5 avoids this strain by permitting overtravel of the contacting mechanism. As the tongue 13 overtravels its point of contact the rocker arm 17 merely swings on its pivot against the action of the spring 22.

The above described arrangement also permits the setting of the tongue 13 at an angle to the vertical where necessary. Assuming that the machine is so situated that it is impossible to place the switch in such position that the tongue 13 hangs vertically but must be at an angle as shown in Fig. 5. In this position the upper right hand screw 20 can be turned inwardly until it bears against the tongue 13 and sets the right hand rocker arm in such position that the lower screw 18 no longer contacts the micro-switch 12. The upper left hand screw 20 is turned out until the lower end of the rocker arm swings outwardly towards the micro-switch 11. In such position it may be necessary to move the micro-switch 11 slightly closer to the adjacent rocker arm.

The above described construction therefore permits a contacting adjustment of the angle of the tongue 13 and permits an adjustment-of the swing of the tongue 13 between the right and left contact points. In some installations it may be desirable to contact both edges of the material. A single micro-switch 11 can be used and the micro-switch 12 with the rocker arm to the right completely eliminated. A similar arrangement can be positioned at the other side of the material. The switch will then correct movement of the material in one direction only. There are micro-switches with a double throw and a dead center. Where such a switch is used a single switch arrangement will regulate the edge of the material in both directions. However, the swing of the finger cannot be adjusted and the device will operate to the close tolerances permitted by the micro-switch itself.

It should be noted that the lower contact screws 18 provide only a small adjustment. This must be made before assembly, since after assembly it will no longer be possible to reach the screws for adjustment. Thereafter further adjustments must be made at the upper end with the screws 20. The type ofmicro-switch used and the distance between them may be varied to suit the particular installation. The switch is simple in construction and easy to assemble and install. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

l A switch for operating a material guiding mechanism comprising a vertically mounted base, a contact switch mounted on said base for energizing said material guiding mechanism, means pivotally depending from said base for engaging the edge of the material to be guided, and means mounted on said engaging means for contacting said switch on pivotal movement of said engaging means, said contacting means comprising a pair of spaced arms, a pivot pin extending between said arms, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said pin, a contact screw in the lower end of said rocker arm, an adjustment screw in the upper end of said rocker arm, and a spring resiliently urging said upper end toward the en gaging means.

2. A switch for operating a material guiding mechanism comprising a vertically mounted base, a contact switch mounted on said base for energizing said material guiding mechanism, means pivotally depending from said base for engaging the edge of the material to be guided, a spring urging said. means against the edge of said material, and means mounted on said engaging means for contacting said switch on pivotal movement of said engaging means, said contacting means comprising a pair of spaced arms, a pivot pin extending between said arms, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said pin, a contact screw in the lower end of said rocker arm, an adjustment screw in the upper end of said rocker arm, and a spring resiliently urging said upper end toward the engaging means.

3. A switch for operating a material guiding mechanism comprising a vertically mounted base, a contact switch mounted on said base for energizing said material guiding mechanism, an elongated flat tongue member pivotally depending from said base for engaging the edge of the material to be guided, and means mounted on said tongue for contacting said switch on pivotal movement of said tongue, said contacting means comprising a pair of spaced arms, a pivot pin extending between said arms, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said pin, a contact screw in the lower end of said rocker arm, an adjustment screw in the upper end of said rocker arm and a spring resiliently urging said upper end toward the engaging means.

4. A switch for operating a material guiding mechanism comprising a vertically mounted base, a contact switch mounted on said base for energizing said material guiding mechanism, an elongated flat tongue member pivotally depending from said base for engaging the edge of the material to be guided, a spring mounted on said tongue for urging said tongue pivotally against the edge of said material, and means mounted on said tongue for contacting said switch on pivotal movement of said tongue, said contacting means comprising a pair of spaced arms, a pivot pin extending between said arms, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said pin, a contact screw in the lower end of said rocker arm, an adjustment screw in the upper end of said rocker arm, and a spring resiliently urging said upper end toward the engaging means.

5. A switch for operating a material guiding mechanism comprising a vertically mounted base, a contact switch mounted on said base for energizing said material guiding mechanism, means pivoted at its upper end and depending from said base for engaging the edge of the material to be guided, said switch being mounted on said base intermediate the ends of said engaging means, and means mounted on said engaging means for contacting said switch on pivotal movement of said engaging means, said contacting means permitting pivotal movement of said material engaging means beyond the point of contact with said switch.

6. A switch for operating a material guiding mechanism comprising a vertically mounted base, a contact switch mounted on said base for energizing said material guiding mechanism, an elongated fiat tongue member pivoted at its upper end and depending from said base for engaging the edge of the material to be guided, said switch being mounted on said base intermediate the ends of said tongue, and means mounted on said tongue for contacting said switch on pivotal movement of said tongue, said contacting means permitting pivotal movement of said material engaging means beyond the point of contact with said switch.

7. A switch for operating a material guiding mechanism comprising a vertically mounted base, a pair of contact switches mounted in spaced opposed relation on said base, means pivotally depending between said switches from said base for engaging the edge of the material to be guided, and means mounted on each side of said depending means for contacting the adjacent switch on pivotal movement of said depending means toward said switch.

8. A switch for operating a material guiding mechanism comprising a vertically mounted base, a pair of contact switches mounted in spaced opposed relation on said base, means pivotally depending between said switches from said base for engaging the edge of the material to be guided, and means mounted on each side of said depending means for contacting the adjacent switch on pivotal movement of said depending means toward said switch, said contacting means permitting pivotal movement of said material engaging means beyond the point of contact with said switch.

9. A switch for operating a material guiding mechanism comprising a vertically mounted base, a pair of contact switches mounted in spaced opposed relation on said base, means pivotally depending between said switches from said base for engaging the edge of the material to be guided, and means mounted on each side of said depending means for contacting the adjacent switch on pivotal movement of said depending means toward said switch, said contacting means comprising a pair of spaced arms, a pivot pin extending between said arms, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said pin, a contact screw in the lower end of said rocker arm, an adjustment screw in the upper end of said rocker arm, and a spring resiliently urging said upper end toward the engaging means.

10. A switch for operating a material guiding mechanism comprising a vertically mounted base, a pair of contact switches mounted in spaced opposed relation on said base, means pivotally depending between said switches from said base for engaging the edge of the material to be guided, and means mounted on each side of said depending means for contacting the adjacent switch on pivotal movement of said depending means toward said switch, said contacting means comprising a pair of spaced arms, a pivot pin extending between said arms, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said pin, a contact screw in the lower end of said rocker arm, an adjustment screw in the upper end of said rocker arm, and a spring resiliently urging said upper end toward the engaging means, said contacting means permitting pivotal movement of said material engaging means beyond the point of contact with said switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,185,773 Nash Jan. 2, 1940 

